1863 Alabama gubernatorial election
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The 1863 Alabama gubernatorial election took place on August 3, 1863[1] during the American Civil War in order to elect the governor of Alabama. Whig Thomas Hill Watts won his first term as governor.[2]
August 3, 1863
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.svg) County results Watts: 50-60% 60-70% 70-80% 80-90% >90% Shorter: 50-60% 60-70% 70-80% >90% Returns Rejected | |||||||||||||||||
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Background
Watts and Shorter had faced each other before in the prior 1861 election, and the fervent secessionist Shorter won easily while enthusiasm for the American Civil War was still high.[3] However, as the war progressed, the economic and military situation deteriorated rapidly, with local anti-Confederate rebellions breaking out across the state, and many civilians facing destitution.[3] Under these conditions, Shorter was defeated in his bid for reelection.
Candidates
Whig Party
Democratic Party
- John Gill Shorter, Deputy from Alabama to the Provisional Congress of the Confederate States; incumbent 17th Governor of Alabama[4]
- James F. Dowdell, member of the House of Representatives from Alabama, 1853â1859; colonel in the Confederate Army[5]
Election
Statewide
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whig | Thomas Hill Watts | 28,221 | 71.71 | 29.08 | |
| Democratic | John Gill Shorter | 9,664 | 24.56 | â32.81 | |
| Democratic | James F. Dowdell | 1,371 | 3.74 | 3.74 | |
| Total votes | 39,256 | 100.00 | |||
| Whig gain from Democratic | |||||